(Wednesday, January 25; Sioux Center, Iowa) Michael Vander Woude, a senior at Stone Ridge Christian (California), has announced his intention to attend Dordt and join the Defender football program.  

Vander Woude is a 6-2, 225-pound offensive and defensive lineman and he also played tight end, kicker and long snapper during his career. He totaled 129 tackles during his career and had 64 tackles with two safeties in 2022.  Vander Woude was named league defensive mvp and he was on the Merced Sun star all-area team and earned first-team all-league honors. 

"I chose Dordt University because I want to go to a place where I can play football, grow more in my faith and get a thorough education," said Vander Woude.  

Michael is the son of Simon Chris Vander Woude of Merced, California. He plans to study agriculture at Dordt.  

Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, is a comprehensive Christian college rooted in the Reformed tradition. The Defender athletic program is a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA).?    

U.S. News & World Report, Money Magazine, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review all list Dordt on their best colleges lists. Dordt is home to approximately 1,500 students.